Introducing The 2017 Calendar

Introducing the 2017 Calendar…

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, 2017 is almost upon us - time to get organised!

Many of you have already bought one (or more!) of our calendars but for those of you who didn’t get a calendar in your stocking, we have a few Beyond Ourselves desk calendars remaining.

Below are a few of the fantastic pictures that feature in the calendar.

Buy now to avoid disappointment!

http://www.beyondourselves.co.uk/donate/alternative-gifts/item/3/51/2017-desk-calendar/?a=sl

Christmas 2016 Blog Round-Up!

Christmas is just a couple of days away and, as always, I can’t believe the year is almost over. Looking back over the year’s blogs highlights all the many varied and incredible things that have happened in 2016.

At the end of last year, I said that I felt 2015 was a year that made us, Beyond Ourselves, feel established, that amongst other things we felt settled in the right position. And I think this year has proven what can happen when you have that strong foundation and are poised for what is ahead (and make a great plan with some focused strategic goals – oh and have some blessing and favour from God too!).

So much has happened this year but here are some of the things (in blogs) that make me smile the most (in no particular order!):

It has been both a heartache and a joy to be able to deliver some much needed sexual health education at all the schools this year and to know that this could truly empower the pupils to make wise, informed and bold choices now and in to their future. Alongside this it was exciting, after almost two years of researching, planning and crafting, to distribute the re-usable sanitary packs to the girls and women in our communities. It’s incredible such a small thing will make such a huge difference in someone’s life!

Another joy this year has been seeing the teachers and head teachers at each of our partner schools become more confident in their skills and roles. As we keep the goal of the schools being professionally and educationally sustainable at the forefront of our minds, this encourages us to keep investing in the teachers through mentoring, training and workshops, so that we work ourselves out of a job!

The fruit of this investment was highlighted at the recent Grade 7 days when the schools took full responsibility for organising and delivering the days at each of the schools, something we as a Beyond Ourselves team have always done in previous years.

We have also had the opportunity to invest in the very wonderful kitchen staff at the schools as well, by running a kitchen workshop sharing best practice, ideas and nutrition training. (Check out Joyce’s smile in the background of this picture!)

The final smile is when I think of the partnerships we are making for developing social enterprises and businesses in the communities so that they are impacted economically and the schools journey towards financial sustainability. By exploring Mama Mimis and working closely with our friend Oscar Mwila we are investigating various business opportunities which we hope to see succeed over this coming year. 

Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible support from so many people. Thank you for journeying with us through 2016. These successes are as much yours as they are ours. I hope they made you smile too.

Merry Christmas!

Grade 7 Days

The ‘Grade 7 day’ is a day of various activities after the pupils have finished all of their final primary exams. In the past the Beyond Ourselves team have hosted them but in our vision to move all of the schools towards a more sustainable practice we asked the schools to prepare, manage and host them this year – with our support if they wanted.

With a little nervous hesitancy at the start, all of the head-teachers agreed and started to plan and prepare the days. Apart from a discussion as to the content of these days the head teachers asked for no help from us, which was very encouraging to see.

Here is Pastor Festus giving a 'careers guidance' talk

The days were very different to what we usually do and very different from each other but each one was personal to the school.

We were all very encouraged to see the schools stepping up to lead these days. Although we have enjoyed hosting these days in the past, we know that this is not a long-term solution. The children in our schools need to have local people from their own communities motivating them, discussing important issues and caring about them and their future.

Below is a picture of ‘Janet’. She is a local business woman who runs her own shop from her home selling things she buys at a discount price. She allows the people in her community to pay a small amount monthly so they can afford to purchase larger items such as large blankets. She makes quite the profit doing this and eagerly told the young women “I don’t wait for my husband to bring home the money – I go out and get it myself” I think she made quite the impression!

Janet - A local business woman from the Chimwemwe Community

Between the 3 schools the sessions included

Secondary school information – Local secondary teachers and previous students talked about what to expect.

Careers guidance talk– looking at what skills the children have and motivational talks by local business people.

Positive living – this about how to keep yourself safe from contracting HIV and these talks were given by our head-teachers.

                   

For us these grade 7 days were a big success. All of our schools are encouraged to be reflecting on their practise so they can continuously improve. Without our questioning some of the head teachers were already saying what they would do differently next time and all agreed that this is something the schools can host easily and is very valuable to the grade 7 pupils.

We are so encouraged by this and know that next year there will be no ‘nervous hesitancy’ just empowered and motivated head-teachers planning their Grade 7 days with confidence.

Gaining Important Reading Resources

Improving reading standards continues to be challenging for community schools in Zambia.

Back in 2013 the Zambian Government changed the national curriculum so that the language of instruction within all schools should be a child’s local language up to and including Grade 4, after which, all schooling and exams should continue in English.

Although I see the benefit of children learning to read and write in a language that they speak fluently, this move has caused many complications here, largely due to there being 72 local languages.

Getting resources in the local language has been far from straightforward, to the point where we’ve needed to produce our own reading books to help our students learn the fundamentals of reading. 

Thankfully, that was around the same time we became aware of A-Z learning, which have an online library with thousands of printable books on offer to download. We’ve been working with some local linguists to translate the first few levels, which help students transition from emergent to independent reader.

With the permission of the lovely people at A-Z learning, we have been making dual language versions (Bemba* and English) of their titles which children can then use when first learning to read in Bemba, but can also use the same books again when learning to read in English.

We trialled this is some classes this term and hope to launch some sustainable libraries in our schools in early 2017.


*Bemba is spoken across the Copperbelt where all our partner schools are based.

Helping Dreams Become Reality

When I was about 4 years old I wanted to be a duck when I grew up. I always loved water but hated putting my face under, so the idea of floating on top of water every day, all day seemed like a good fit for me. Though I was young, I still remember the laughter that erupted when I first announced this aspiration at the dinner table. My mum’s smile is etched in my mind. Thankfully I moved on and no one was disappointed when this childhood dream didn’t become a reality!

When we ask the pupils at the schools we work with what they want to be when they grow up, we hear that many of them want to be teachers, nurses, doctors and pilots. It is our desire to see these dreams become a reality for as many as possible. That said, we are aware that we work with primary schools that end in Grade 7. Because of this, for several years now, we’ve been giving bursaries to pupils who either show a particular aptitude for learning or are from a family of greater need and show academic potential.

In January we will be supporting 100 children with these bursaries. Each student will get their secondary school fees paid, plus a little extra to contribute to books and uniform. In addition to reaching the ‘100’ landmark, we're excited because, in January, the first group we started supporting in this way will be entering Grade 12, their final year of schooling. These pupils have flourished despite coming from extremely challenging backgrounds. We are ver proud of the way they are growing up to be mature young men and women, continuing to pursue their dreams.

In the run up to Christmas we’d love for you to consider helping support us with these secondary school scholarships. A year of secondary school costs £75 so we are asking you to consider supporting a child for one term at £25 or £75 for a whole year.

This Christmas, let’s encourage children as they pursue their dreams to achieve.

To support a child for a term of secondary school (£25) click here.

To support a child for a year of secondary school (£75) click here.

You’ll be pleased to hear none of our pupils have never wanted to be ducks… Though we did have one pupil who confidently said he wanted to become a parrot (which we deciphered was actually a pilot!)

Cranleigh School's Recent Visit To Kawama

We were really impressed when we visited Kawama School due to the progression that has occurred in the last few years.

Whilst we were out there, as well as visiting people in their homes, bartering in the market, doing work experience and many other valuable lessons, we visited a school called Kamatipa.

This school is what Kawama School was like when we first started partnering a few years ago. One room, 60 pupils, all half our age, with one teacher. After setting some work to do on the chalkboard, he would go to another corner of the room to teach another year group. Children would sit and wait to be taught. How different this is from a primary school here in the UK?

School can’t take place if it is raining as the rain is deafening on the metal roof, so children can’t hear what the teacher is saying. There are so many challenges that seem to hinder a vital education.

Kawama School now has four classrooms, a staff room, a tap in their compound, flushing toilets, a church (where Reception are taught), security fencing and most importantly the feeding program which gives the children a meal every day. For some children this may be their only meal of the day. 

 
This feeding program could not have occurred at all if it wasn’t for all the sponsorships that have taken place by all those connected with Cranleigh School.

Sponsorship is currently £12.50 a month or £150 a year. That is less than some of our possessions; our jackets, shoes, sunglasses and speakers; we could probably take a phone contract that was £12.50 a month cheaper and not even notice! Of course, the reality is we can have those fantastic shoes and provide a child with an education.

We are committed as a school to sponsoring 225 children, but there are about 360 students at Kawama School - the little we give makes a phenomenal difference. Having seen the impact we can make, some of us have committed to sponsor a child. In terms of a return on your money there is probably no better investment out there.

In Zambia we met people who lived a simple life and in some respects they live with contentment and values that we, in our developed world, should perhaps pause to consider what it is that truly brings happiness.

In a world where Malaria, poverty, AIDS and famine cause so much pain and sorrow, we as a team discovered the reality of this anguish. As we saw with a nine-year-old girl; when we interviewed her, she told us that last year she lost both her mother and grandmother to malaria and her father to malnutrition. The trip to Zambia opened our eyes and our hearts to our friends in Kawama.

Esther Longwe

Esther is an incredibly hard working person from the Kawama community in Kitwe. Esther’s husband, who was the breadwinner for the family and worked in the mines, sadly passed away in 2014. This left her widowed and responsible for bringing up their eight children. Her children range in age from her firstborn son aged 29 down to her youngest aged 4. They all live at home with Esther in Kawama except for her eldest daughter who is married.

Esther with her two youngest children and her grandson who all attend Kawama Community School

When Kawama Crafts started up in 2013, Esther was one of the original people to start the sewing and making of the crafts and she really enjoyed learning new skills. She also openly admits that the money that she earned was a lifeline for her and the family as they had very little if any coming in at that point. Along with all the rest of the people who worked there they were very sad when it ceased operating. She was, therefore, excited when Pastor Cephas and Mary asked her if she would like to take on the role of sanitation at Kawama Community School. Esther immediately said yes because it meant that she would be earning a regular wage and also it was the school where her youngest two children plus her grandson attended, so she knew it very well.

Esther chatting this week

The family has now lived in Kawama since 1992. They have seen it grow from an area just 14 years ago that was almost all “bush” with very few houses to the bustling and vibrant community that it is today. To many people Kawama may be seen as one of the “poorer” area but Esther talked passionately about the sense of community that she enjoys with her links to the school, the church and her neighbours. She recalled that when they first came they had to walk to the neighbouring community of Kamatapa to find a shop, but now there are many shops and a small centre selling much of what is needed.

When asked how the school has changed and how she enjoys her job she replied, with a smile, that before the new toilets were built and bore hole was sunk, there were just two pit latrines to take care of and clean. Water to clean the toilets had to be fetched from a tap a distance away by her predecessor, Ivy, (now school administrator). Esther jokes with Ivy that she has 10 toilets to clean now so works a lot more but Ivy always reminds her that there is now water on tap so it is so much easier. Seeing Ether and Ivy joking together is a good example of the strong sense of community seen both at the school and in the area.

Esther’s salary each month is the only income that the family have on a regular basis. Out of it she prioritises the school fees that she has to pay, which is a significant part of her salary. Obviously she also needs to budget for food and clothes, which cannot be easy for her. Her eldest son sometimes brings in some money to help but he has found it hard to get a full time job and manages on odd jobs.

Esther is always seen around the school working hard, with a smile on her face. Esther explained to us just how important her job and her links to the school are to her. She is very appreciative of what Beyond Ourselves has done, not only for herself and her family, but also the community with the education and feeding programme, supplying water and the regular clothes sale, which helps local people to clothe their families. It was a pleasure chatting to Esther and we now feel that we can understand her daily struggles just a little more.

Admin, Marathons And Cake

A random blog but that’s my life!

ADMIN - We have recently returned from our annual administration trip where we interview all the children at 2 of our schools – Janna and Greater Joy – and then input all the new data into laptops so that we have up to date information about each child that we can then send on to their sponsors.

It is a great time to see all the children and teachers again and to be reminded why, in the London office, we do what we do – to fundraise so that these children can have the best opportunities of a good education, an excellent meal every school day, and school uniform. The majority of the children have a good BMI and are loving school. The classrooms themselves look better year on year and the teachers are really enjoying their job. Really encouraging to see, and we truly have our sponsors to thank for their ongoing commitment to Beyond Ourselves as without we, it actually wouldn’t happen. THANK YOU.

As well as interviewing this year, we took the team to a couple of homes and we undertook their household chores just for an hour. We swept and polished their floors, did clothes washing and started preparing lunch. I must confess I was a bit tired by the end of the hour! We always ask the UK team for a highlight of their week. For me this year, it was just the realisation that a Zambian lady’s day comprises those daily chores and maybe making fritters to sell or selling other vegetables within the community. Obviously our lifestyle and pace of life is so much faster over here – some of which we can do nothing about, but it did make me wonder whether I should do an audit of my weekly schedule and see if the pace can be slowed down a bit!

MARATHON – well half actually – a huge WELL DONE and THANK YOU to the 13 people who ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Beyond Ourselves on 9th October! They raised over £3000 which is great news and I’m sure they enjoyed every minute of it!

CAKE – This year we have increased our teachers’ salaries so I am pledging to raise £1000 to cover one teacher for the year mainly by making lemon drizzle cakes galore!! I am no Mary Berry but I have a few admirers of my lemon drizzle at Stephen James, so I think I can reach my target with cake! I would love to encourage you to join me in this fundraising challenge. Can you have a coffee morning/cake sale – I am amazed at how much can be raised with a cake sale! Do let us know if you do organise a cake sale as we can send you fliers to publicise your event.

By Karen Hosker

Waste to Toys Workshop

Did you know that almost 80% of a person’s brain potential

is developed by the age of 4?

This was the main message for the ‘Waste to Toys’ workshop which, as the names suggests, was all about making resources from waste or junk materials.

Singakwenza: a South African company, travelled up to Zambia to spend the

day with us and show us how easy it is to make school resources that are free, educational and sustainable. 

As well as the three Beyond Ourselves schools, ten other local community schools were invited to join us. It was a very empowering morning and we all ended the day with our heads full of new ideas and feeling motivated to get creative.

Every person was given a pair of scissors and a black marker pen and told that these would be the only ‘tools’ we needed.

The number washing line in this picture has been made from packaged cardboard and the pictures taken from free supermarket leaflets.

So clever, simple and free!

Each activity was designed with specific Early Childhood Development goals in mind. So we progressed from making rocket balls – that tested our gross motor skills to writing our initials on the top of fruit packaging with used matchsticks -that helped with our fine motor skills.

Poking holes with a matchstick developed the muscles young

children need for holding a pencil.

With each activity and new creation the emphasis was on developing the skills that children would need for reading, writing and maths later on. 

We couldn’t make everything in one morning and so spent some time looking at resources already prepared such as this ‘shoe tying activity’

Overall the day was a huge success.  Singkwenza shared with our teachers the skills and ideas needed to make their own toys and school resources.  The teachers went back to their schools with easily-replicated sustainable resources and ideas for making many more.

However the best part was the knowledge and understanding of the importance of play for a child’s early development. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.

During our training we did little writing but learnt a great deal through the making, discussing, playing and problem solving with our peers.

Check out the video on the Singkwenza website to see their training in action.

http://www.singakwenza.co.za